A Tale Of A Shoe

(I have used this children’s talk in the season of lent, but it can be equally adapted for other times.)

Theme: God with us.

Aim: To teach the children that Jesus walks with them as their friend.

Materials: A large carry bag to hold the following items.
A slipper, or any familiar indoor shoe.
A flip-flop, or any familiar outdoor shoe
A work boot
A school shoe
A sport shoe (I used a golf shoe.)
A leather sandal (something that looks like something Jesus could have worn)

Drama points:
1. After the children are seated and greetings exchanged I remind the children that today is the fourth Sunday in the season of lent, and that means it’s nearly Easter.

2. “Today is a good day to talk about our shoes, and so I have brought with me a bag of shoes I found lying around the house.”

3. Pull out the slipper. Engage the children with a question. “Where would someone wear this shoe?”

4. “I imagine that if I walked with this slipper to see where it went, I could be walking with someone in the house.”

5. Pull out the flip-flop. “Where would someone wear this shoe?”

6. “I imagine that if I walked with this flip-flop to see where it went, I could be walking with someone on the beach.”

7. Pull out the work boot. “Where would someone wear this boot?”

8. “I imagine that if I walked with this boot to see where it went, I could be walking with a farmer and riding on his tractor.

9. Pull out the sport shoe. “Where would someone wear this shoe?”

10. “I imagine that if I walked with this golf shoe to see where it went, I could be walking with a golfer playing golf.

11. Pull out the school shoe. “Where would someone where this shoe?”

12. “I imagine that if I walked with this school shoe to see where it went, I could be walking with someone going to school.”

13. Pull out the leather sandal. “This is a special sandal. It reminds me of the shoe that Jesus could have worn.”

14. “I imagine that if I walked with the sandals that Jesus wore to see where they went; I could be walking to many places. Jesus walked in the countryside and fed many people there. Jesus walked to many houses and healed sick people there. Jesus walked to church and taught many people there about the Kingdom of heaven.”

15. “There is one walk that was very sad. Jesus was carrying a large and heavy wooden cross on his back, carrying it up the hill. Jesus died on the cross.”

16. “Jesus died on the cross so that he would live again and walk with us today. Jesus walks with you on the beach, he walks with you in the house, he walks with you in the supermarket, he walks with you to school, and he walks with you as your friend. You can pray to him anywhere because is walking with you as your friend.

17. “Every time you put on your shoes, let them be a reminder to you that Jesus walks with you.”

18. Let us pray. “Dear Jesus, thank you for dying on the cross so that you could walk with us today. Let our shoes be a reminder for us that you walk with us as our friend where ever we go. Amen.”